3 plead guilty to shipping Syria banned aircraft parts

MIAMI — Three men have pleaded guilty in Miami federal court to illegally shipping aircraft parts to Syria that have dual military and civilian uses.

Court records show the men pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and to illegally exporting the parts to Syrian Arab Airlines. The Treasury Department says the government-run airline transports weapons and ammunition in conjunction with the Hezbollah extremist organization and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

The men are identified as 40-year-old Ali Caby, 43-year-old Arash Caby and 34-year-old Marjan Caby. Among other things, federal prosecutors say they submitted false and misleading electronic information to federal agencies about the exports.

Each of the men faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19.